"Grandpa! Grandpa! I'm home! We saved the planet!...Grandpa?" Young Nanaki pushed open the door to the observatory, only to find a cold and empty house waiting for him. How could he forget? He was so stupid. "Grandpa's not here...He's..." He refused to admit the truth to himself, sitting on the couch he sighed, covering up his pain with a lie. "Grandpa's on a trip, learning about the planet. That's right. How could I forget...?" He stared at the ground, his flame end tail moving back and forth, the Limited Moon barette in his firey mane. The XIII tattoo was bolder on his front leg as he jumped back down. One of his bracelets jingled and he began walking towards the people down below. He jumped down the ladder, smiling, hiding back his pain as his heart cried out silently.
He descended down the steps, looking up to the observatory as he thought he heard a familiar voice laughing out 'Hoo hoo hooooo...' Only his imagination. He would give anything to his grandfather again, even give up his life, but he couldn't bare the thought of leaving his friends, leaving them with another lost comrade. He couldn't stand the thought of anyone mourning over him. Nanaki shook his head, jumping down he saw Cloud sitting near the Cosmo Cannyon, the others were exploring his home. Letting out a sigh, he approached Cloud, letting pride show on the outside.
"What are you doing?" Red XIII asked as he sat down next to Cloud. Cloud looked up, letting out a sigh he looked back towards the fire, it burned brightly and reflected in his blue mako eyes. Cloud whispered something faint that even with Red XIII's heightened hearing, he could not hear it. "What?" He inquired, staring at Cloud and then at the mood. Cloud closed his eyes, the fire of the Cosmo Candle's reflection repelled from his pupils. "I said, I'm waiting for you. I want to know; how are you doing? Bugenhagen's not there and you don't know when he'll come back..." Nanaki shook his head, faking a smile. "Don't worry, he'll come back when I least expect it, laughing hoo hoo hoo all around, telling everyone what new things he's learned!" Cloud smirked, believing it. "Okay, are you gonna stay here? Or come with us to Midgar"
Red XIII froze at the question, another choice to make. If he stayed here, he could embrace the memory of his grandfather forever. If he went with Cloud and the others, his mind would be too busy with helping others to even think about Bugenhagen. But he couldn't be selfish. "Give me a day or two, I'm coming with you guys." Cloud nodded and stood up, stretching and heading towards the Cosmo Cannyon bar. Red XIII smile and nodded, he ran off up the stairs once more to the observatory. Along the way, he noticed a small boy running around outside the materia shop. The same boy who had asked him if Bugenahagen would come back.
His name was Ghandi, he was a boy who was curious about most things, he was always asking Bugenhagen questions about the planet and life. Red XIII had told him that Bugenhagen was coming back. Ghandi smiled, adjusting his bandana around his brown hair ans smiled with his dark-toned cheeks. "Hey Nanaki! Is Bugenhagen back yet?" He asked, his brown eyes full of wonder. Nanaki shook his head. "Not yet, but you can bet he'll be back laughing and stuff. Ghandi smiled and ran into the item shop as Red XIII smiled, then frowned, knowing the truth that would hurt Ghandi.
Nanaki sighed, remembering what Bugenhagen had last said to him before he died. Before he inherited the Limited Moon weapon which helped him fight alongside Cloud and the others, before any of this happened. Bugenhagen had gave him the Limited Moon, saying 'It looks good on you. Hoo hoo hoooo...' Then that was it. Red XIII was mad at himself, mad that he couldn't help Grandpa, old age was one thing, but Red XIII couldn't let go. Red XIII climbed up the ladder, he entered the observatory and sat on Bugenhagen's bed, he looked up and howled to the moon, tears streaming down his eyes as he cried himself to sleep.